By Charles Poladian - Dubai Holding announced it wants to build the world’s largest mall and indoor park in a massive climate-controlled “pedestrian city” they call the Mall of the World. According to the announcement, the mall could host more than 180 million visitors per year.
@HHShkMohd launches #MallOfTheWorld, a temperature-controlled pedestrian city in #Dubai pic.twitter.com/D7MNLhWDAR — Dubai Holding (@DHCorporate) July 5, 2014
Dubai Holding, “a global investment holding company that develops and manages an extensive portfolio of companies focused on hospitality, specializing in business parks, real estate, telecommunications, investments and financial services,” is owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.
The Mall of the World complex will cover 48 million square feet will be connected via tram system and includes the world’s largest indoor family theme park, 100 hotel buildings and an event district which can host 15,000 visitors. The Mall of the World will also feature a wellness district where individuals can get cosmetic surgery, spa treatments, clinics and outpatient surgery.
According to Dubai Holding, the Mall of the World complex will also feature a cultural district with theaters based on New York’s Broadway and London’s West End, as well as streets and shopping districts based on Spain’s la Rambla, Oxford Street and Rodeo Drive. The mall itself will be the world’s largest, covering 8 million square feet, while the Wellness District will cover 3 million square feet. The climate-controlled retail streets will cover 7 kilometers (4.3 miles).
#MallOfTheWorld is theworld’s first temperature-controlled city, occupying a total area of 48 million sq. ft. pic.twitter.com/Ln4UXE07k9 — Dubai Holding (@DHCorporate) July 5, 2014
“The growth in family and retail tourism underpins the need to enhance Dubai’s tourism infrastructure as soon as possible," Sheik Mohammed said in a statement. "This project complements our plans to transform Dubai into a cultural, tourist and economic hub for the 2 billion people living in the region around us; and we are determined to achieve our vision.”
According to the Mall of the World press release, tourists can stay a week in the complex without needing to use a car or leave for any reason. The promenade and dome, which encloses the theme park, are retractable and will open during the winter. Ground level parking can hold 50,000 vehicles and there will also be business and conference centers throughout the Mall of the World complex. The cost and construction date for the project were not announced.
A video of the Mall of the World, courtesy of Dubai Holding, can be viewed below.